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Best Moving Companies in Alabama 2024

We compared 25 companies and chose the top movers

    • Colonial Van Lines
      4.3(2,603)
    • United Regions Van Lines
      4.2(694)
    • Allied Van Lines
      3.4(801)

    Top Picks

    See who reviewers like

    Colonial Van Lines logo
    United Regions Van Lines logo
    Allied Van Lines logo
    See our top picks

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      Best Moving Companies in Alabama 2024

      If you live in Alabama and are planning a relocation, you might be considering hiring a moving company. To help, we’ve compared top movers on ratings and reviews, price, additional services, discounts, availability and several other factors to choose our top picks for Alabama.

      Read our full methodology below for all the details. Our picks may be Authorized Partners that compensate us — this does not affect our recommendations or evaluations but may impact the order in which companies appear.

      Our editor’s top picks

      1. Best overall: Colonial Van Lines
      2. Affordable moves: United Regions Van Lines
      3. Interstate moves: Allied Van Lines
      Why trust ConsumerAffairs?
      • Our recommendations are based on what reviewers say.
      • 4,535,237 reviews on ConsumerAffairs are verified.
      • We require contact information to ensure our reviewers are real.
      • We use intelligent software that helps us maintain the integrity of reviews.
      • Our moderators read all reviews to verify quality and helpfulness.

      Compare moving companies in Alabama

      Quick and easy. Get matched with a Moving partner.

      Our top 3 picks for moving companies in Alabama

      A moving company can ease the stress, time and energy spent on a move. Our research team has analyzed 80 moving companies to help you find the best option. By comparing customer ratings and reviews, additional services, storage options, price and other factors, our team chose three companies that offer the best value for your money.

      Colonial Van Lines

      4.3
      2,603 reviews
      Highlight
      Climate-controlled storage options
      Types of moves
      Commercial, residential, military
      Discounts available
      Seasonal
      Special Offer

      SAVE up to $500!

      SAVE up to $500 on your long-distance move with Colonial Van Lines.

      Colonial Van Lines is a carrier that provides moves to and from Alabama. It offers commercial, residential and military moves and single-item and kitchen packing, as well as full packing services.

      Highlights

      • Broker vs. carrier: Carrier
      • Types of quote(s): Binding
      • Storage options: Climate-controlled facilities and modular cubes

      Colonial Van Lines reviewers from Alabama frequently mention positive experiences with the company, praising the professionalism and efficiency of the movers. They often say they appreciated the communication and helpfulness of the moving coordinators and account managers, the competitive pricing and the overall satisfactory service.

      Melodie from Harvest was particularly happy with the rep she worked with: “The rep constantly sent me emails and reached out to me if I sent him an email asking for a call. If I left him a voice mail, he would return it. When he wasn't able to answer my question, he reached out to whoever it was that he can get the answer from and still contacted me with the answer. He was on top of everything. I may go through Colonial again if need be.”

      A reviewer from Spanish Fort also had a positive experience: “Our experience with Colonial Van Lines was really good. If we needed anything, we could get in touch with them. They gave me an estimate based on some pictures and then they came out.”

      Occasionally, reviewers from Alabama don’t have positive experiences with Colonial. Some mention issues with the initial scheduling and communication, delays in delivery and issues with account managers.

      United Regions Van Lines

      4.2
      694 reviews
      Highlight
      Military and senior moving packages
      Types of moves
      Commercial, residential, military, senior
      Discounts available
      Seasonal

      United Regions Van Lines is a carrier that provides moves to and from Alabama. It offers binding quotes, which means your price is locked in.

      Highlights

      • Broker vs. carrier: Carrier
      • Packing services: Large items, furniture, fragile items; DIY packing boxes
      • Storage options: Climate-controlled; secured with cameras/guards 24/7

      Customers from Alabama praise United Regions Van Lines moving crews for their professionalism, efficiency and care in packing and transporting items. Reviewers often say they were pleased with the services and would recommend the company to others.

      Terry from Huntsville hired the company to unpack and arrange things in their new home: “It was such a pleasure to return home from the border and find that everything worked as it should, even with a simple thing such as movers. The moving crew was very good and I am happy to recommend this company’s services. 5 stars from our happy family,” Terry said.

      As Julie of Hamilton put it: “They exemplify top-tier customer satisfaction. After three moves with them, I’ve found their service impeccable. Each time, they ensured nothing was damaged, pickups and deliveries were punctual, and the initial quote matched the final bill. Their reliability and consistency make them my go-to choice for moving. I can’t imagine using anyone else. They are worth every penny.”

      A couple of reviewers in Alabama have mentioned bad experiences with United Regions Van Lines, citing issues with communication, inaccurate estimates and unprofessional moving crews.

      Allied Van Lines

      3.4
      801 reviews
      Highlight
      Online shipment tracking
      Types of moves
      Commercial, residential, military
      Discounts available
      Senior

      Allied Van Lines is a broker and carrier that offers commercial, residential and military moves to and from Alabama. It provides in-home estimates, which means your quote should be fairly similar to your final cost.

      Highlights

      • Broker vs. carrier: Broker and carrier
      • Packing services: Full-service and partial packing; packing materials provided
      • Storage options: Storage-in-transit up to 90 days; permanent climate-controlled with security; portable units

      Allied Van Lines customers from various locations in Alabama have positive things to say about the company. They praise the professionalism, communication and work ethic of the packers, movers and drivers, as well as the promptness in providing estimates and scheduling.

      Mike from Weaver said he would “highly recommend” the company: “Dwight - the driver and Shannon our coordinator were both fantastic and David our sales manager was great too,” he said. “I will use them again on any future moves with our family! Great customer service. Schedule was just as expected and again I highly recommend them to anyone looking for a moving company.”

      James of Vestavia Hills said about his experience: “Everyone that helped with our move from the representatives, to the packers, to the movers did an outstanding job. Everyone had great communication and were very professional. We would highly recommend to anyone looking for a moving company to use.”

      Some Allied Van Lines reviewers from Alabama haven’t been as pleased with the company. One reviewer from Athens had a mixed experience — they initially had a positive experience with the estimator and driver but later faced issues with the transportation of their vehicle and damage to their furniture.

      How to choose a moving company in Alabama

      Moving can be stressful, but choosing the right moving company in Alabama can make a big difference. Here's a simplified guide to help you find the best fit:

      1. Assess your needs: Decide what you'll take and leave behind. Determine how much help you need from the movers based on your budget and time constraints.
      2. Start researching: Ask for recommendations from people you know and check online reviews.
      3. Get detailed quotes: Get in-home surveys from at least three companies for accurate cost estimates.
      4. Check licensing and insurance: Verify the company's credentials and insurance.
      5. Compare quotes and make a decision: Thoroughly compare quotes, considering factors beyond the lowest price.

      Cost to move in Alabama

      How much you pay for your move depends on whether you move yourself or hire movers, the move distance, how much you’re moving and any additional services (like packing or storage) you choose.

      Local movers typically charge by the hour, with a team of two movers costing $80 to $100 per hour as of publishing. Long-distance movers typically charge a flat fee, which may range anywhere from $2,000 to $8,000. Packing and unpacking services will cost you more. Tipping movers is optional but customary (10% to 20% of the total cost).

      Estimates for moving services from Birmingham (35203)

      The figures below are based on current (as of publishing) industry estimates for a three-bedroom home with no additional services.

      Tips for a successful move in Alabama

      There are ways to ease the stress of a move and simplify the process — it just takes some planning.

      1. Get an idea of the scope of the move

      Think about how much time, energy and money the move will require. Evaluate your time frame, the number of items you need moved and your budget. Set aside extra funds for unexpected costs.

      » SMART MOVE: How to make a moving budget

      2. Declutter in advance

      Reduce the weight and volume of your belongings to save on moving costs. Consider donating or selling items you no longer need. Your city of town may have local or national charities that offer donation pickup, including for larger furniture items.

      3. Start packing early

      Begin packing items from less frequently used areas or seasonal items first. As you get closer to your move-out date, aim to pack one room per day and label boxes clearly.

      » MORE: How to pack for a move

      4. Make sure your essentials are easily accessible

      Pack a box or bag for each person in your household containing essentials for moving day and the following day. Include a change of clothes, toiletries and any necessary medications — you don’t want to be without these during the move, especially if you’re driving a long distance.

      5. Know how to contact your mover

      Have a reliable contact for the moving company so you can communicate logistics, ask questions and track your move. Some companies offer tracking via an app; find out ahead of time so you can download it and be ready for moving day.

      » MORE DETAILS: Moving checklist

      FAQ

      How much does it cost to rent a moving truck?

      Moving truck rental costs can range from under $100 to several thousand dollars, depending on the size of the truck, the distance you need to drive and the amount of time it takes. If you’re moving locally, you might spend around $20 a day plus mileage fees.

      How much should I budget for moving boxes and other supplies?

      If you were to buy brand-new moving boxes for a larger home, you might find yourself spending quite a bit of money. The good news: You can save by reusing old boxes or collecting them from friends and family. Costs for other moving supplies, like packing paper and cushioning material, are usually minimal but can add up — you might budget up to $100 for these materials.

      How much does it cost to ship a car?

      Depending on the exact mileage and other factors, it can cost between $500 and $1,700 to ship a car long-distance.

      Does Alabama have a high cost of living?

      As of publishing, Alabama’s cost of living is a bit lower than the national average, particularly in terms of housing costs.

      Methodology

      ConsumerAffairs carefully collects in-depth, verified reviews to tell each customer’s experience with a company. We believe customer experiences are a crucial indicator when evaluating companies, so these reviews are a significant factor when selecting our top picks.

      To choose the top moving companies in Alabama, we started with the 80 popular providers listed in our main moving guide. First, we narrowed it down to the ones available in Alabama. We then weighted several key features to get our final rankings:

      • Storage options: We looked at the availability of storage units and any free storage periods.
      • Packing services: We considered the types of packing services offered, including whether a company offers packing services and whether it offers both full and partial packing.
      • Deposit requirements: We prioritized companies that ask for 20% or less down versus those with higher deposit requirements.
      • Discounts: We outlined how many discounts each company offers and what types (e.g., senior, military, student).
      • App: We gave a company preference if it has an app with a useful service, like requesting a quote or tracking a move.

      Not sure how to choose?

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